Umjawasir Development Project. Phase two evaluation, January 2000 – December 2004

Background

This is an integrated rural development project that targeted the Hawawir tribe, who were drastically affected by drought that began in the mid eighties. The project implemented what is called a desert farm through the utilization of underground water for the enhancement of food security, management of the natural resources of the area and capacity building of the beneficiaries. Since 1992, three projects "phases" have been implemented in the target area; the pilot project, known as phase Zero (1992-1994), phase I (1995-1999) and phase II (2000-2004). This evaluation pertains mostly to Phase II.

Purpose/objective

The main objective of the evaluation was to examine the course of development of Um Jawasir project to assess the impacts of its main components and to identify the lessons learnt from the experience. Emphases were on Phase II of the project. The specific objectives were:
1. Identify the project achievements vis-à-vis the preset objectives and assess its impacts on the project primary and secondary beneficiaries and partners.
2. Critically examine the strategies that guided the course of the project and identify the lessons learnt and how they were incorporated in the project responses to the arising needs.
3. Examine the methods adopted by the project to involve beneficiaries in the project activities and to build their capacities to manage and sustain the project and its benefits
4. Assess the validity of the phasing out process and the adequacy of the arrangements undertaken for a smooth phasing out.
5. Make recommendations based on evaluation outcomes and lessons learnt to inform project stakeholders and donors future planning.

Methodology

Several methods were adopted in the evaluation including:
• Consulting project documents, reports and records
• Individual and group meetings with project staff, beneficiaries (men and women), officials and people residing in the area but not directly linked to the project
• Field observations at farm and home levels and in the area around the project
• A small-scale survey was also conducted to generate quantitative information on cultivated area, production and productivity and marketing

Key findings

• Six wells and ninety farms were established and are under cultivation.
• Beneficiaries affirmed the projects positive impact on their economic and social life. Most of them are now food secure year round and are able to support their extended families. Another benefit is fodder production for their animals and for surrounding areas.
• The beneficiaries, who were nomads, are changing to settled farmers and residing in much closer distances to each other. The trend towards settlement is observed in the efforts exerted by farmers to establish the model village, where some permanent houses, school, youth club and drinking water source started to emerge.
• Some farmers are witnessed cultivating areas outside the project area near the water wells
• Beneficiaries believe they are less susceptible to droughts because through cultivation of land they have access to food and fodder in the years when there are no rains.
• The social interaction between the different clans is enhanced and clans no longer constitute the major factor for judgment. Farmers meet more often and a focus on development and self-reliance is emerging.
• The shelter belt is not yet optimal and encounters severe irrigation problems. The creeping sand is still threatening the farm and the problem seems to exceed the farmers as well as the projects capacity. Farmers confirmed improvement in the micro climate in terms of temperatures and amount of rains fall and the absence of wind storms during last three years, but the overall impacts are minimal and difficult to trace and predict due to the breakdown of the metrological station.
• The introduction of the improved goat breed has contributed to improved food intake and nutrition and secured an alternative source of food for the community, both within and outside the direct project beneficiaries.
• The high malnutrition rate among children is reduced as a result of the availability of diversified food, increase in women cooking skills and improved hygiene attributed to the gender program.

Recommendations

Phasing out process:
• Continue to strengthen committees' managerial and administrative abilities through mentoring and on the job training during the first months of beneficiaries' takeover.
• In future projects, identify where youth can increase their involvement and participation.
• A follow-on project would give the project management a chance to address specific issues related to capacity building. The core focus would be to facilitate attempts of farmers to resume cultivation in the previous phases of the project, rehabilitate the shelter belt and consolidate work of committees.

Farmers committees:
• The committees demonstrated a level of group solidarity and capacity in mobilizing farmers to negotiate their concerns with the project administration. They have learned to seek outside help of leaders to strengthen their image and implement their decisions. Nevertheless, commitment and performance are below required level. The poor performance of phases 0 and 1, which are managed by the beneficiaries independently, is a demonstration of this shortage, as committees didn't succeed to rebuild sufficient revolving fund or take effective decisions regarding the uncultivated plots. The current situation depicts a level of difference in the interest among beneficiaries attributed to the large number of clans involved, illiteracy and weak awareness and individualism. Such differences may develop into conflicts that threaten the sustainability of the project in the lack of efficient and strong management that is able to make fair and sound decisions. Hence, strong committees are indispensable and all efforts should be exerted to build their capacities.

Revolving fund (RF):
• The revolving fund has probably been the weakest component in the project. Serious attempts must be taken to address the current defaults, as unsolved debits will remain as an obstacle that would face the farmers committee and a possible source of conflict in the future.
Authorities:
• A link needs to be established with the appropriate technical departments so they can provide the farmers with technical support.
• Authorities have an important legal aspect in recognition of the Development Committee and facilitation of its work through subsidies on inputs and exemption from taxes and registration fees.
• Authorities should intervene to set and clarify the land tenure system in the project area. Land ownership will motivate farmers and in addition to the power it gives to the Development Committee in making decisions pertaining to land use and allocation, it will enable the committee to obtain loans from financial institutions

Agriculture:
• More investment in irrigation is necessary to reduce current waste in water and irrigation time and consequently cost of irrigation. Efforts need to be focused on the main irrigation ditches which are long and often covered with sand and the shelter irrigation system which is proved difficult to manage.
• Geophysical survey to examine the underground water level and assess its sustainability
• Reducing the farm size might increase the current efficiency of the land and maintain a sufficient level of produce to meet beneficiaries' basic needs.
• Strengthen farm supervision, set target sawing dates and use of improved seeds though intensive extension to ensure productivity and recovery of incurred costs
• Adoption of a marketing strategy to increase returns on promotion of products, increase of the marketing abilities and opportunities and protect farmers against selling at periods of sufficiency or being exploited by capable traders.

Environment:
• Production of seedlings for construction of new shelter belts and production of wood lots.
• Supervision and guidance of farmers' strengthening and irrigation of the old shelter belt.
• Thickening the old northern shelter belt and add new ones to the east and south.
• Introduction of new drip irrigation system.
• Continued training and awareness campaigns on environmental issues.
• Encouraging use of alternative energy sources.

Gender:
• Conduct a comprehensive socio economic study on Hawawir women.
• Develop a gender program not only on the basis of women interest and needs, but on relevance, compatibility with the local environment and economic viability.
• Increasing women's access to economic resources; particularly land, livestock and marketable skills.
• Address issues such as violence against women, FGM, early marriage and HIV/AIDS awareness.